New chapter! Finally here! Woo! @victoria123fangirling
Part 12: The Duel
Miles stared down his former history teacher, his battle cry still resonating in the cavernous space.
You fight me first.
Why had he said it? Even he wasn't sure. His common sense certainly wasn't happy. He was an honors student – he didn't pick fights. He fought to defend himself if he had to, and even then he preferred to use biting sarcasm over brute force.
Was it the way his friends were just hanging there, helpless? Was it that stupid smirk on Mordred's face?
Or was it something deeper, a protective instinct inherited from the man who stood behind him?
.
Moore's eyes narrowed. "Fight me, Mr. Ambrosi? You mean, you wish to duel me?"
Miles sighed, and set his jaw. "I guess I do."
Allie pulled at the chains, stretching toward him."What are you doing?" she hissed.
"I'm not sure. But I think I'm making a bargain," he replied, eyes still fixed on Mordred.
"What are your terms?" Mordred asked, raising an eyebrow.
Miles tried to think over the sound of his pounding heart. "If I win, you let us all go. And Dave gets his ring back."
At the mention of his name, Becky glanced up at Dave, beside her. But the man in question didn't react, staring at Miles's back like it was a complex physics problem.
"And should I win?" Mordred asked, a glint in his eye.
"You keep the ring, and... you take me."
Allie's stomach plummeted. "Miles, no!"
"You can't!" Will strained at the bindings, which seemed to only clamp tighter.
"So either way, your friends go free?" Mordred snarled. "Awfully convenient."
A smirk tugged the edge of his lip. "Don't tell me you're scared of getting beaten by a teenager. Again."
Marco grinned. "Ooh, burn."
Allie glared down at him, trying to kick his head. "Could you not encourage him to do something stupid?"
Marco craned his neck up at her. "Hey, if he's gonna do it, we might as well cheer him on."
Allie's eyes trailed to Miles. "But – he can't – "
"Allie," he cut in, voice firm. "You can't stop him. You're not gonna change his mind. Besides, he's Merlin, remember? He can handle this."
.
"Omigod, he's Merlin."
Miles groaned at the sound of Dave's strained voice. "Aaaaand now it's sinking in."
Dave clutched his head in his hands, his gaze jumping from Miles, to Merlin, and back again. "Oh my god, there's TWO of you!"
Will and Marco shared a look. Miles had told them earlier of Dave's sensitive temperament, but witnessing it was a whole other experience.
Miles, keeping his staff trained on Moore, peered over his shoulder. With a forced calm, he said, "I know this is a shock and you're upset. But I'm kind of in the middle of a life-or-death situation, so please – please – take a deep breath and don't pull a David Stutler?"
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